Abstract: Clarification of surfactant laden wastewaters of the type commonly encountered in the laundry, dishwashing, textile manufacturing, and metal cleaning and degreasing processes is provided by use of a chitosan/(meth)acrylyloxy alkyl quaternary ammonium salt graft polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical process for the purification of water containing soluble and sparingly soluble inorganic compounds using single-stage or two-stage membrane processes that integrate membrane water purification with chemical precipitation softening and residual hardness and silica removal from the membrane concentrates using ion exchange resins and silica sequestering media, respectively.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method to system for enhancing TOC removal while maintaining membrane filter performance is the implementation of a dual pH control system. This embodiment will enhance the ability to maximize TOC removal while maintaining optimum membrane filter performance. By adjusting pH, dosing a chemical coagulant and incorporating liquid-solids separation, a considerably higher degree of TOC removal is possible. By adjusting pH again after liquid-solids separation this embodiment can drastically increase the efficiency of the membrane microfiltration/ultrafiltration system. Thus pH control for soluble organic removal is critical. This pH level however may not be the ideal set point for minimizing membrane fouling which is the basis for this embodiment. An example: the pH set point for optimum soluble organic removal is designated to be 5.5. However, the optimum pH set point for optimum membrane performance is 7.0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the floatation-clarification of difficult water, in particular heavily polluted surface water, urban or industrial wastewater, rainwater or any type of water that floats with difficulty, particularly water which contains a high percentage of mineral matter or requires the injection of a flocculation aid and which originates from filters or membrane technologies such as ultrafiltration, said method comprising: a coagulation step (A1) in which a dose of coagulant (1) is injected into the water to be treated; a flocculation step (B) in which flocculant (2) is injected (B1) into the water after the coagulation step, in order to agglomerate the suspended particles in the form of flocs; and subsequently a floatation step (C) in which the flocculated water is mixed with an emulsion of air micro-bubbles in a floatation apparatus. A second coagulant injection step (A2) is performed downstream of the flocculant injection (B1) and upstream of the floatation (C).

Abstract: Disclosed is method for separating solute from an aqueous solution comprising providing a first aqueous solution substantially saturated with solute, contacting the first aqueous solution with a clathrate former under conditions sufficient to form clathrates and to precipitate the solute from the first aqueous solution, separating solute from the clathrates by removing a first stream comprising clathrates and solute, and removing a second stream comprising solute, decomposing the clathrates into the clathrate former and a second aqueous solution, the second aqueous solution comprising solute in a concentration less than the concentration of solute in the first aqueous solution, and recycling the second aqueous solution by contacting said solution with a source for the solute to form a third substantially saturated aqueous solution for use as, or in combination with, the first aqueous solution, wherein the method is continuous.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method for remediating oxic water having transition metal ions comprises the steps of providing oxic water having transition metal ions. The water is introduced to a chamber. The pH is adjusted to a range from 2.5 to 7.5 forming a pH-adjusted oxic water. Thiosulfate ions are introduced and reacted with the transition metal ions to form insoluble transition metal-thiosulfate species complexes, which are immobilized forming remediated oxic water.

Abstract: A mechanical vessel may effectively and simultaneously displace a first undesired gas from within water with a second desired gas, and remove at least one alkaline species and oily matter from the water. The vessel raises the pH of the water and reduces the lime requirement for subsequent lime softening. The vessel receives the water containing the first gas and passes the water through a series of gasification chambers. Each gasification chamber may have a mechanism that ingests and mixes a second gas into the water thereby physically displacing at least a portion of the first gas into a vapor space at the top of each gasification chamber from which it is subsequently removed. There is an absence of communication between the vapor spaces of adjacent chambers. An acid is added to remove the alkaline species, where the first gas is an optional by-product that is also removed.

Abstract: Use of a Maillard reaction product as an adjuvant in a variety of applications including solid-liquid separations, corrosion inhibition, emulsification, dust suppression, slow release fertilization, viscosity modification and others and especially as a depressant or collector in separation processes, including the selective separation of solids and/or ionic species from aqueous media, such as in the process of froth flotation.

Abstract: Uses of a method of producing small bubbles of gas in a liquid include gas transfer in airlift bioreactors and anaerobic digesters, and particle separation. The method uses a source of the gas under pressure, a conduit opening into a liquid and oscillating the gas passing along the conduit. The oscillation is effected by fluidic oscillator, comprising a diverter that divides the supply into respect outputs, each output being controlled by a control port, wherein the control ports are interconnected by a closed loop. Separation of algae from water involves delivering a laminar flow of microbubbles in the range 10 to 100 ?m diameter. Such bubbles also deliver a laminar flow in bioreactors that delivers enhanced liquid flow despite the small bubbles, which improves mixing and also enhances efficiency of gas exchange and retention of the bubbles in the reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to block polymers, for example, arborescent copolymer compounds, and to methods of making and purifying such compounds. In one embodiment, the invention relates to arborescent polymer compounds that contain one or more styrene polymeric blocks in combination with one or more isobutylene polymeric blocks. In another embodiment, the invention relates to methods for purifying arborescent polymer compounds that contain at least one styrene polymeric block in combination with at least one isobutylene polymeric block.

Abstract: A sono-molecular-conversion device and method for treating waste water including (a) feeding the waste water containing organic matter through a first sono-molecular conversion device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; (b) applying ultrasonic energy to the waste water containing the organic matter by the sono-molecular conversion device to ultrasonically collapse microsized bubbles with transient cavitation in said waste water containing organic matter to effect mineralization of the organic matter into ammonia therein by sono-molecular-conversion; (c) feeding the waste water containing the ammonia through a second sono-molecular conversion device including a plurality of ultrasound transducers; and (d) applying ultrasonic energy to the waste water containing the ammonia by the sono-molecular conversion device to ultrasonically collapse microsized bubbles with transient cavitation in said waste water containing the ammonia to effect nitrification of the ammonia into nitrates and nitrites therein

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a tailing solution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a fluid waste stream following mining or ore processing operations.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a remediation system for oxic water having transition metal ions includes a first chamber defining a first cavity having a first inlet and a first outlet. The first cavity includes oxic water having dissolved ions of reduced species of chalcogenides. The system also includes a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. The oxic water has a pH ranging from 2.5 to 7.5 when present in the first chamber.

Abstract: A method of treating selenium contaminated water to reduce the concentration of selenium in the water to levels below 5 ?g/L uses a first stage treatment by an iron co-precipitation process to remove a bulk concentration of selenium from the water, followed by a second stage treatment wherein the water from the first stage is treated by either a hydride generation process or an ion-exchange media, or a combination thereof, to achieve a selenium concentration level below 5 ?g/L.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for improving the production of alumina. The invention involves adding a product containing one or more polysaccharides to liquor within the fluid circuit of the production process, where one of the polysaccharides is scieroglucan. The use of scleroglucan can impart a number of advantages including at least some of: greater flocculation effectiveness, increasing the maximum effective dosage, faster settling rate. The production process can be a Bayer process.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical process for the purification of water containing soluble and sparingly soluble inorganic compounds using single-stage or two-stage membrane processes that integrate membrane water purification with chemical precipitation softening and residual hardness and silica removal from the membrane concentrates using ion exchange resins and silica sequestering media, respectively.

Abstract: Green compositions and technologies are provided. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of separating a first material from a second material. For example, the method can comprise mixing the first material and the second material in a slurry with a beneficiation composition. The beneficiation composition can comprise one or more glyceride and fatty acid mixtures extracted from an ethanol process. Air bubbles can be provided in the slurry to form bubble-particle aggregates with the first material and the bubble-particle aggregates can be allowed to be separated from the second material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing impurities from waste water by electroflotation. The waste water to be cleaned is conducted through an electrolytic cell. Electrolysis is performed between two electrodes (1, 2) of different electronegativities, such that the more electronegative electrode (1), which is non-wearing in a cleaning process, is used for producing hydrogen gas and hydroxyl ions from water. The less electronegative electrode (2), which is an active, wearing electrode in a cleaning process, is used for producing metal ions in a solution to be cleaned. In addition to this basic reaction, a desired oxidation-reduction reaction is initiated in the cell in a strictly controlled electric field for removing one or more designated impurities from cleaned water.

Abstract: A high-efficiency water softening process is disclosed. The softening-process is particularly effective for the treatment of water process streams containing a broad array of contaminants, such as Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, iron, aluminum, manganese, copper, zinc, silica, TOC, oil, and grease. The softening-process includes steps of: (a) adding carbonate ions and hydroxide ions to said water process stream until the process stream pH is raised to between at or about 10.5 and at or about 14.0; (b) optionally adding a coagulation aid so as to facilitate the creation of separated solids comprising a substantial portion of the contaminants; (c) optionally adding a polyelectrolyte so as to facilitate the creation of separated solids comprising a substantial portion of the contaminants; and (d) phase-separating the separated solids so as to remove the contaminants and produce a highly purified water process stream.

Abstract: A polymer for use in photoresist compositions is synthesized by effecting polymerization reaction to form a polymerization product mixture and subjecting the mixture to molecular weight fractionation by a liquid phase separation technique using a good solvent and a poor solvent. The fractionation step is iterated at least twice, and one iteration of fractionation includes adding a good solvent which is different from the good solvent added in the other iteration of fractionation.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for removing organic matter from water. The method includes contacting the water with a powdered material with an anionic or cationic surface charge and having a particle size of between 0.1 mm and 2 mm. The powdered material is a modified product of natural origin. The system and method also provides for the regeneration of the powdered material in situ and reused.

Abstract: Described is a process for treating an animal husbandry effluent slurry, such as hog manure, containing suspended solid particles. The process includes a) providing a liquid portion of the effluent, b) diluting the liquid to a Newtonian fluid, c) assuring the pH is under 10, d) adding to the fluid i) a soluble salt of alkaline earth metal (e.g. CaCl2) and ii) an insoluble basic salt of the same alkaline earth metal (e.g. CaCO3) to balance available cations and promote agglomeration of the suspended solid particles, e) adding a cationic coagulant to obtain a pre-treated destabilized colloid mixture with zero zeta potential value, and f) performing electroflotation to obtain a treated liquid and floated solids.

Abstract: Modified resins are disclosed for removing a wide variety of solids and/or ionic species from the liquids in which they are suspended and/or dissolved. These modified resins are especially useful as froth flotation depressants in the beneficiation of many types of materials (e.g., mineral and metal ores), including the beneficiation of impure coal comprising clay impurities, as well as in the separation of valuable bitumen from solid contaminants such as sand. The modified resins are also useful for treating aqueous liquid suspensions to facilitate the removal of solid particulates, as well as the removal of metallic ions in the purification of water. The modified resins comprise a base resin that is modified with a coupling agent, which is highly selective for binding to solid contaminants and especially siliceous materials such as sand or clay.

Abstract: Our idea is a new procedure that can be used to clean up and recover oil from spills or oil leaking from damaged ships or rigs. The reclamation is accomplished by restoring the oil's light density. This is accomplished with density control by adding light cycle oil, (LCO), with a density of 0.82 g/ml, to the oil being recovered for the purpose of reprocessing in refineries. Recovery is made possible through the application of solubility rules found in organic chemistry. LCO is a mixture of many different molecular weight hydrocarbons that have many different numbers of carbons in their chains, branches, or rings. Each of these hydrocarbons dissolves a small part of the oil preparing the mixture for collection and reprocessing as refinery feedstock. Furthermore, this idea can prevent the need for landfill storage and offset the cost of recovery.

Abstract: Oily and/or solids-containing water is clarified by chemical treatment to form flocculated and agglomerated solid phases and a clear water phase. In the clarification process, microbubbles of air or other gas are introduced at atmospheric pressure, via an eductor or other suitable device, together with a flocculant. During the subsequent formation of floes and their agglomeration into larger masses, microbubbles become entrained within and adhered to the solid flocculated materials. The resulting masses are very buoyant and easily separated from the water via a variety of approaches that include skimming, decanting, filtration, and screening. This process results in a solids phase that may be disposed of as waste, if desired, and a highly clarified water phase.

Abstract: A method for removing ionic, organic and elemental mercury from aqueous streams such as wastewater streams from hydrocarbon processing. The method comprises four primary removal steps. First, a mercury precipitant is added to the stream to convert dissolved ionic species of mercury water-insoluble form. The majority of these precipitated solids, as well as other forms of particulate mercury, are subsequently removed by means of gas flotation. Following the flotation step, additional particulate and precipitated ionic mercury removal is accomplished with media filtration and finally, activated carbon acts to remove the remaining dissolved ionic mercury species as well as elemental and organic forms of mercury.

Abstract: An energy efficient desalination process that does not produce waste products involves the extraction of water from a first solution, such as seawater, by using a second concentrated solution to draw the water from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. By manipulating the equilibrium of the soluble and insoluble species of solute within the second solution in favor of the soluble species of the solute, a saturated second solution can be used to generate osmotic pressure on the first solution. Also, by adjusting the equilibrium in favor of the less soluble species after the water has been drawn from the first solution, a portion of the solute can easily be precipitated out. Heating the second solution decomposes the solute into its constituent gasses. The constituent gasses and precipitated solute may be recycled through the process to affect the changes in equilibrium and eliminate waste products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dewatering of effluents through the use of automated optimization using feedback control. The method and apparatus for feedback control optimizes dewatering processes for any water cleansing process that uses retention and/or flocculation aids (e.g., polymers) to impact endpoint water clarity. Disclosed implementations include processing using dissolved air flotation (DAF) and sludge cake formation. The methodology includes real-time monitoring of turbidity and incremental control of polymer to manage changes to turbidity/suspended solids due to operating parameters such as temperature, chemical variations, and mechanical influences.

Abstract: Disclosed is an economical process for the purification of water containing soluble and sparingly soluble inorganic compounds using single-stage or two-stage membrane processes that integrate membrane water purification with chemical precipitation softening and residual hardness and silica removal from the membrane concentrates using ion exchange resins and silica sequestering media, respectively. The purified water recovery is not adversely affected by design and/or operational deficiencies in the chemical precipitation softening system that may result in higher residual hardness and silica in the supernatant from the clarifier.

Abstract: Methods of deoiling oily water such as SAGD and frac produce water. The oily water is treated with a natural coagulant selected from tannins and chitosan. A cationic and/or anionic flocculant may also be added to the treated oily water. The thus treated oily water may be subjected to conventional mechanical oil separation techniques such as hydrocyclonic separation, dissolved air flotation, entrapped air flotation, induced gas flotation, gravity filters, reverse osmosis filters, API, or Voraxial® bulk separators and the like.

Abstract: A method for recovering tallow from food or animal processing wastewater includes adding a flocculant to the wastewater to agglomerate suspended fats, oil and grease particles in the wastewater, separating solid waste materials from the wastewater and processing the solid waste materials to recover tallow. The flocculant includes polyacrylamide or an acrylamide copolymer. A process for separating fats, oil and grease from food or animal processing wastewater is also provided.

Abstract: A method for precipitating casein from a suspension comprising milk is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: adding a phosphate solution to a suspension; mixing the phosphate solution with the suspension to form a mixture having a phosphate concentration greater or equal to 40 mM; freezing the mixture having a phosphate concentration greater or equal to 40 mM to obtain a frozen mixture; and thawing the frozen mixture to obtain casein-containing aggregates in the mixture, in which the phosphate solution is buffered at a pH value of no less than 4.4.

Abstract: A method for recovering tallow from meat processing wastewater includes adding a coagulant composition to the wastewater to agglomerate suspended fat, oil and grease particles in the wastewater, separating solid waste materials from the wastewater and isolating tallow from the solid waste materials. The coagulant composition includes tannin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing and using aluminum slurry containing aluminum particles having an extremely small size. In particular, a particle size that is small enough to freely flow through water filtration filters. Once the aluminum particles react with phosphorus, phosphates, and other contaminants, the resulting particles are large enough to be trapped by filters such that the contaminants can be easily removed. The aluminum slurry is created by the use of a unique process which rapidly transforms electrically charged aluminum plates into slurry. The resulting slurry is then added to the body of water where it disperses throughout the water and flocculates with the contaminants. The resulting clumps produced by the reaction are large enough to be trapped by filters in the water treatment facility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating mixed waste by pyrolysis. Organic mass is carbonized by heating to carbon in a pyrolysis reactor (3) in an oxygen-free environment. Pyrolysis gases are distilled for oil and the gases are used for energy production. Solid matter resulting from pyrolysis is sieved for separating inorganic coarse particles from a carbon fraction. The carbon fraction is milled in two operations, first with a roller mill (8) and then with a jet mill (10), a removal of metal being performed between the operations. The pulverized carbon fraction is classified by means of ionizing particle separators (11, 12, 13). The multi-stage particle separation is followed by discharging clean air and recovering fine carbon.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate and/or liquid droplet separation processes from liquids containing the same and the use of specific chemical additives to control surface wetting, hydrophobicity and surface forces in such processes.

Abstract: A clarification system may comprise a channel having an inlet and an outlet, a length, bottom, and a height sufficient to contain a liquid having a depth. The clarification system may include one or more gas injectors disposed within the channel, configured to inject gas bubbles into a suspension flowing in the channel. In some embodiments, at least one gas injector injects gas bubbles having average or median size that does not exceed 100 microns in diameter. Some gas injectors inject bubbles having mean size below 50 microns. Some gas injectors inject gas via the precipitation of gas bubbles from a supersaturated liquid including a dissolved gas. Certain embodiments may be configured to form a quiet zone, typically near the top of the flowing suspension, in which turbulence may be minimized or substantially eliminated. Certain systems include a plurality of gas injectors disposed at different lengths along the channel.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for purification of contaminated water through hydrate formation and separation of hydrates from contaminated water enriched with contaminants, by supplying hydrate particles to the water during hydrate formation. The present invention also concerns a device for purification of water by using a method according to the invention, and water produced according to the invention. By using the process principles according to the present invention, all types of water can be purified for consumption or safe discharge, or desired resources can be recovered, and air can be purified if it first is bubbled through the water which then is purified by a method according to the invention.

Abstract: A method for removal of dissolved materials and/or particles from a liquid stream comprising flocculation by vigorously mixing polysaccharides or hydrocolloids into the liquid stream and subsequent gelation of the polysaccharides or hydrocolloids with cations capable of gelling same. Large, strong gelled agglomerates of pollutant and polysaccharide or hydrocolloid are formed with the help of suitable cations. The gelled agglomerates are well suited to separation from a liquid stream by flotation, in a sieve, in a centrifuge, in a cyclone or via other conventional separation processes. Also described is a method for mixing of un-dissolved polysaccharide or hydrocolloid with a polluted aqueous stream by shearing the polysaccharide or hydrocolloid into the aqueous stream to improve logistics and provide economic savings in treatment of large volumes of water. Also described is the use of dilute solutions of polysaccharides for treatment of a variety of effluent streams.

Abstract: Lignin and alkali are efficiently sorted out of alkaline black liquor discharged from the paper manufacturing/pulp and paper manufacturing industries and the treated water is made as purified water. Acid is added to the black liquor and its pH is adjusted to 2.5 to 3.5. An aggregating agent is added to have lignin contained in the black liquor settled and the black liquor is separated into lignin and clean water. Ozone gas, preferably in the micro bubble state, is given to the clean water for contact reaction.

Abstract: Process for water purification and for the separation of beneficial materials that are obtained from an aqueous solution, comprising determining a turbidity index and adding to the water or to said solution a composition comprising one or more natural or mixtures of natural substances, chosen from the group consisting of substances having a cationic molecular charge and substances having an anionic molecular charge, in an amount determined as a function of said turbidity index, thereby, allowing water purification and the aggregation of said beneficial materials.

Abstract: Use of a Maillard reaction product as an adjuvant in a variety of applications including solid-liquid separations, corrosion inhibition, emulsification, dust suppression, slow release fertilization, viscosity modification and others and especially as a depressant or collector in separation processes, including the selective separation of solids and/or ionic species from aqueous media, such as in the process of froth flotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a procedure for elimination of boron from sea-water by reverse osmosis membranes characterized in that it comprises: adding to sea-water a composition consisting of at least one metal together with at least one antiscaling-dispersant agent, and a second phase in which an alkalinizing agent is added until a pH of between 8-9.5 is achieved, which can furthermore consist of a third phase in which the fluoride content of the sea-water is increased following the second phase, or a third phase in which a high molecular weight alcohol is added to the water.

Abstract: A flocculant for separating and flocculating oily components and water components is provided so that no sludge is produced when the oily components and the water components contained in the emulsion having a high COD value; and the throughput of the active sludge is not decreased in the secondary treatment of the active sludge. A flocculant for separating and flocculing oily components and water components contained in oil-in-water type or water-in-oil type emulsion, comprises a unit (i), and at least one of units (ii) and (iii) represented by the following formulas: (i) —(C(R1R2)C(R3X))—, (ii) —(C(R4R5)C(R6Y))—, (iii) —(C(R7R8)C(R9Z))—; wherein X is a group having —SO3M, M is hydrogen or a metal element, Y is a group having a quaternary nitrogen atom, Z is an electrophilic group, each R1 to R9 is hydrogen or an alkyl group, and a ratio per molecule of these units (i):(ii):(iii) is (1 to 100):(1 to 100):(1 to 100).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for efficiently filtering slurry suspensions in a vessel including a nozzle flange near the vessel, when solids in the slurry suspensions being treated in the vessel are filtered for cleaning or for other purposes and subsequently subjected to reslurrying, dissolving or dispersing operation. A method for producing suspensions, solutions or dispersions comprising separating solids from slurry suspensions and then slurrying, dissolving or dispersing the solids again by adding a solvent, characterized in that the above described solids are separated in the same vessel as the one in which the operation to obtain the above described slurry suspensions has been performed and/or inside a flange directly connected to the same vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating water from oil-based drilling fluid includes an separation tank, a chemical treatment apparatus having one or more de-oiling polymer preparation tanks, and a dissolved air flotation unit. Slop mud is directed into the separation tank where surfactant is added to separate the drilling fluid from oily water. The drilling fluid is drained for further processing. The oily water is removed by an outlet arrangement from the separation tank and directed to an initial treatment line. One or more de-oiling polymers are added to the oily water in the initial treatment line and mixed therewith. The mixture may then be directed to the dissolved air flotation unit where dissolved air is released into the bottom of the mixture. The dissolved air adheres to suspended solids in the mixture and lifts them to the top surface as a froth. The froth is skimmed from the top surface of the mixture and collected.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for purifying and/or concentrating compounds from or in solutions and/or mixtures. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for purifying and/or concentrating a compound from a solution or mixture. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for purifying/concentrating a compound from a solution or mixture that utilizes, in whole or part, foam purification and/or concentration. In still another embodiment, the present invention can be used to separate, concentrate and/or purify any material, including biological products and/or biomaterials, that can be selectively bound to a binding agent, thereby yielding a complex that will readily partition onto bubble surfaces in a foam.

Abstract: Wastewater treatment systems and processes for removal of solids, pathogens, nitrogen, and phosphorus from municipal and agricultural wastewater include the simultaneous separation of solids and phosphorus from wastewater and industrial effluents.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment process for treating wastewater comprising a water-based dispersion containing a surfactant, a colorant and silica, as well as other solid matter, wherein the wastewater is treated using a polysilicato-iron coagulant.